Spring-wheel.



R. M. KEATING.

SPRING WHEEL. 7

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1914.

1,205,904. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

WITNESSES: W INVENTOR. ffiW lr A TTOR NE Y.

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ROBERT M. KEATING, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. KEA'IING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Spring-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to improvements in vehicle wheels in which springs are em- 1 or of an ec uilateral trian le without its an gles, and with each central diameter of the larger or outer incomplete triangle thus formed bisecting one side of the smaller or inner incomplete triangle thus formed,'so

1 that each inner spring is oblique to the outer spring to which the former is attached. The two units, which as before stated I prefer to use, are arranged side by side or in different parallel planes, and with the longer springs intersecting each other and the shorter springs intersecting each other. The arrangement further includes the equidistant disposal of the ends of the larger springs in the circle formed by the rim of the wheel, and the same disposalof the points of con tact of the shorter springs, which are intermediate of said last-mentioned springs, with the hub of the wheel.

The objects of my invention are to construct a wheel in such a manner as to provide therein for a yielding or resilient action between the hub and rim thereof, whereby the jar and vibration incident to the wheel when in operation will be absorbed within the wheel itself, instead of being transmitted to the vehicle and its cupants, and to provide a wheel of this character that consists of few parts which may be readily assembled and quickly and easily replaced in case of accident which bends, breaks, or otherwise injures any of such parts, possesses the required degree of strength and stability to render it available forcommercial purposes, and has no parts or members to become loose and rattle.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel which embodies a practical form of embodiment of my invention, and Fig. 2, a vertical section taken on lines 22, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Although I have shown a wheel which includes two spring units, and believe a wheel made up with a pair of units to be constructed in the best and most practical manner, for reasons that must be clearly apparent to one skilled in the art, it is conceivable that more than two such units might be introduced into the construction, and that possibly one unit could be made available in some cases or for some purposes.

In the drawings a wheel is represented which comprises a hub 3, a rim 1, and two intermediate units each consisting of three short springs 4i and three long springs 5 together with the securing means therefor.

The wheel hub may be of any approved construction, but should by preference be provided with a plurality of exterior flanges 6, or equivalent peripheral projecting members, spaced to receive between them lugs 7 which are centrally located on the inner sides of the springs l, there being three such flanges for said lugs in the two units. Only two flanges 6 would be necessary for the lugs 7 of a single spring unit, an additional flange being required for the lugs of each additional spring unit. The rim 1 may also be of any approved type and is rigid.

Each long spring 5 has a pair of oblique and divergent lugs 8 on the inside thereof, such lugs being on opposite sides of the center of such spring, and the terminals of said springs are bent inwardly to provide rimengaging parts or lugs 9. Bolts 10 are inserted in the rim 1, from the outside, and pass through the lugs 9, and nuts 11 are screwed onto the inner ends of said bolts, to secure the springs 5 to said rim. The heads of the bolts 10 are here countersunk in the rim 1. There are six bolts 10, with their nuts 11, disposed incthe same plane with the'annular space between each pair of flanges 6,

for such unit, or twelve in all, such bolts being arranged for each unit in three pairs which are equidistantly disposed around the rim. Each pair of bolts is out of line laterally with the next adjacent pair in either direction, and the arrangement is such that the radial planes of the whole number of bolts are equidistant. Thus the rim 1 is supported by the spring units or the latter are supported on said rim at points which taken all together are equidistant, and the rim support is evenly distributed. The springs 5 are, of course, cut to the proper lengths to permit of the above-described arrangement. Similar conditions should obtain in a wheel having more than two spring units, but in the case of a single spring unit the bolts 10 would be spaced equally in one plane common to all, instead of being ar-' ranged in pairs which are spaced equally.

The short springs 4 have their lugs 7 inserted between two adjacent flanges 6 and rigidly secured thereto by bolts 12 and nuts 13, the former passing through the flanges and lugs; and said springs have their ends rigidly secured to or have rigidly secured thereto the lugs 8 of the long springs 4:, by means of bolts 14 and nuts 15, the former passing through the short spring terminals and said lugs 8. The lugs 8 are outside of the contacting parts of the springs 4. Thus tight, strong, and rigid connections are made as required at the center and circumference of the wheel and of each unit, and between the several members of each unit.

A wheel constructed in the manner described above is capable of yielding at practically all points, owing to the number and arrangement of the springs therein, and is at the same time strong and stable enough for all practical purposes, as is plainly to be seen. The hub flanges serve as convenient and efficient means to which to attach and secure the spring units centrally or axially, and prevent lateral displacement.

Inasmuch as absolutely tight joints must be made and maintained in this wheel, the simple expedient of resorting to lugs and bolts and nuts is found to be entirely adequate and satisfactory. Nevertheless some change in the lugs may be made, and some equivalent of the bolts and nuts might be used to advantage.

The manner of assembling the wheel parts will be readily understood, also that of making repairs by the removal of old and the substituting of new parts.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spring wheel comprising a hub provided with peripheral projecting members, a rim, and an intermediate spring unit consisting of a plurality of substantially straight one-piece innersprings forming the sides of an incomplete equilateral triangle and having interior central projecting members, aplurality of substantially straight one-piece outer springs forming the sides 01" an incomplete equilateral triangle, means rigidly to connect said inner-spring projecting members with said peripheral hub members, means rigidly to connect the ends of said inner springs with said outer springs at points intermediate of the ends thereof, and means rigidly to connect the ends of said outer springs with said rim, all of said springs being in the same plane.

2. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and anintermediate spring unit consisting of a plurality of substantially straight one-piece inner springs forming the sidesof an incomplete equilateral triangle, a plurality of substantially straight onepiece outer springs forming the sides of an incomplete equilateral triangle and having interior-projecting members and end rimengaging members, means rigidly to connect said inner springs with said hub, means rigidly to connect said inner springs at their ends with said outer-spring projecting members, and means rigidly to connect said outerspring rim-engaging members with said rim, all of said springs being in the same plane.

3. A spring wheel comprising a hub provided with peripheral projecting members, a rim, and an intermediate spring unit consisting of a plurality of substantially straight one-piece inner springs forming the sides'of an incomplete equilateral triangle and having interior central projecting members, a plurality of substantially straight one-piece outer springs forming the sides of an incomplete equilateral triangle and 7 having interior projecting members and end rim-engaging members, means rigidly to connect said inner-spring projecting members with said peripheral hub members, means rigidly to connect said inner springs at the ends with said outer-spring projecting members, and means rigidly to connect said outer-spring rimengaging members with said rim, all of said springs being in the same plane.

l. A spring wheel comprising a hub provided with peripheral projecting members, a rim, and a plurality of intermediate spring units consisting of intersecting inner s rings forming the sides of incomplete equi ateral triangles and having interior central proecting members, intersecting outer springs forming the sides of incomplete equilateral triangles, means rigidly to connect said inher-spring projecting members with said peripheral hub members, means rigidly to connect said inner springs at the ends with said outer springs, and means rigidly to connect said .outer springs at their ends with said rim. 7

5. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and aplurality of intermediate spring units consisting of intersecting outer springs forming the sides of incomplete equilateral triangles and rigidly connected With said rim, said springs having inwardly-projecting divergent lugs, intersecting inner springs forming the sides of incomplete equilateral triangles and rigidly connected with said hub, and means rigidly to connect the ends of said inner springs with said lugs.

6. A spring Wheel comprising a hub provided With peripheral projecting members, a rim, and a plurality of intermediate spring units consisting of intersecting inner springs forming the sides of incomplete equilateral triangles and having interior central pro- Copies of this patent may be obtained for jecting members, intersecting outer springs forming the sides of incomplete equilateral triangles and having interior-projecting divergent members and end rim-engaging members, means rigidly to connect said inner-spring projecting members with said peripheral hub members, means rigidly to connect said inner springs at their ends with said outer-spring projecting members, and means rigidly to connect said outer-spring rim-engaging members With said rim.

ROBERT M. KEATING.

Witnesses F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

